Columban Missionaries of the Philippines - Read today’s Gospel Reading and Reflectionhttp://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/read-today2019s-gospel-reading-and-reflection
en-usPlone 2.0Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 15, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/twenty-fourth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-september-15-2019
Lk 15:1-32 The father said to the son, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”adminarlenneSun, 15 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”So to them he addressed this parable.“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of themwould not leave the ninety-nine in the desertand go after the lost one until he finds it?And when he does find it,he sets it on his shoulders with great joyand, upon his arrival home,he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’I tell you, in just the same waythere will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repentsthan over ninety-nine righteous peoplewho have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing onewould not light a lamp and sweep the house,searching carefully until she finds it?And when she does find it,she calls together her friends and neighborsand says to them,‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’In just the same way, I tell you,there will be rejoicing among the angels of Godover one sinner who repents.”

Then he said,“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’So the father divided the property between them.After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongingsand set off to a distant countrywhere he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.When he had freely spent everything,a severe famine struck that country,and he found himself in dire need.So he hired himself out to one of the local citizenswho sent him to his farm to tend the swine.And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,but nobody gave him any.Coming to his senses he thought,‘How many of my father’s hired workershave more than enough food to eat,but here am I, dying from hunger.I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.I no longer deserve to be called your son;treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’So he got up and went back to his father.While he was still a long way off,his father caught sight of him,and was filled with compassion.He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.His son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;I no longer deserve to be called your son.’But his father ordered his servants,‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.Then let us celebrate with a feast,because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;he was lost, and has been found.’Then the celebration began.Now the older son had been out in the fieldand, on his way back, as he neared the house,he heard the sound of music and dancing.He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.The servant said to him,‘Your brother has returnedand your father has slaughtered the fattened calfbecause he has him back safe and sound.’He became angry,and when he refused to enter the house,his father came out and pleaded with him.He said to his father in reply,‘Look, all these years I served youand not once did I disobey your orders;yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns,who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’He said to him,‘My son, you are here with me always;everything I have is yours.But now we must celebrate and rejoice,because your brother was dead and has come to life again;he was lost and has been found.’”

Pope Francis has been known for his
emphasis on the practice of mercy. He once again brought to light what the
theologian Walter Kasper would call as the forgotten topic in the Christian
tradition. This Sunday, the mercy of God is also the central theme that runs
through all the readings. Perhaps, it might help us to reflect on the readings
the centrality of mercy to our Christian life.

In the first reading, from Exodus
(32:7-11, 13-14), after Yahweh had led his people out of slavery from Egypt and
established a covenant with them, immediately God’s chosen people became
unfaithful, followed alien gods, and danced around a golden calf. God’s anger
flared and shattered the tablets of the covenant and everything seemed to be lost
and done with. But Moses interceded and
reminded God of his promise (v.11). And God relented. Although not in the texts
of our readings today, but what followed when Moses pleaded to God for mercy on
behalf of the people was that Moses reestablished the covenant with God by
cutting again the stones of covenant like the former ones. Exodus 34 tells us
that the Lord descended in the cloud and Moses proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful (rachum) and gracious (henun), slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness (emet)
(Exodus 34:6).” Here, the word mercy is expressed in Hebrew words such as hesed
(steadfast love), rachum (mercy), hen (graciousness) and emet
(faithfulness). God is merciful despite Israel’s infidelity.

This is continually repeated in the
Old Testament, as a formula or a credo. Walter Kasper, in his book, "Mercy:
the Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life" (also published
here in the Philippines by the Claretians), points out that, “in his mercy, God
rather holds back his justified wrath. He does this in order to provide people
the opportunity for conversion. Divine mercy grants sinners a period of grace
and desires their conversion. Mercy is ultimately the grace for conversion.” God
finds enjoyment when the sinner repents. Mercy is God’s own justice.

Mercy is also central to the New
Testament. This is found profoundly in the parables of Jesus, such as the Good
Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) and the Merciful Father (Lk 15:11-32), which is found in
this Sunday’s gospel. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus told the parable of the
Merciful Father when the Pharisees and the scribes were upset that Jesus spent time with sinners and ate with them. According to them, Jesus by doing so
transgressed the righteousness prescribed by the law. By telling this parable,
Jesus expressed the greater and higher righteousness of his heavenly Father.
Jesus showed the Pharisees and the scribes that how he behaves is how God
himself behaves in relation to sinners or those who were regarded by them as
such. Like in the parable, although the son went away and squandered his
inheritance in dissolute and debauched living, the father remained faithful to
himself and faithful to his son. Kasper comments that:

“In no other parable has Jesus
described so masterfully God’s mercy as in this one. For in this parable, Jesus
wants to say: Just as I act, so to does the Father act. The Father’s mercy in
this parable is the higher form of justice. We can also say: mercy in this
parable is the higher form of justice.”

According to Saint Thomas Aquinas,
“Mercy is the externally visible and effectively active aspect of the essence
of God. Mercy expresses God’s essence, which graciously attends to and devotes
itself to the world and to humanity in ever new ways in history. Therefore, we
must describe mercy as the fundamental attribute of God.” This essence of God,
God’s love and mercy, is revealed and made concrete in Jesus Christ. As
followers of Jesus, our ministry must be centered on the life and ministry of
Jesus, which is the practice of mercy.

Let’s go back to Francis and his
emphasis on the centrality of mercy in Christian life. When the Pope visited
the country in January 2015, his actions spoke of this clearly. He visited the
victims of the typhoon Yolanda, he embraced a child who had been
neglected, and met the leaders of other religious faiths. In his homily during
the mass at the Manila Cathedral attended mainly by Filipino bishops, priests,
seminarians, religious men and women, and lay leaders of the church, he reminded
them that, “We proclaim the Good News of God’s infinite love, mercy and
compassion. We proclaim the joy of the Gospel. For the Gospel is the
promise of God’s grace, which alone can bring wholeness and healing to our
broken world. It can inspire the building of a truly just and redeemed social
order.”

Cardinal Luis Tagle in his farewell
speech to Pope Francis and in response to the Pope’s encouragement said, “Every
Filipino wants to go with you. Don’t be afraid. Every Filipino wants to go with
you – not to Rome – but to the peripheries. We want to go with you to the
shanties, to the prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance,
arts, the sciences, culture, education, and social communication. We will go to
those worlds with you to bring the light of Christ.” Cardinal Luis Tagle’s
response is a commitment to Pope Francis’ vision of the church and its mission.

Perhaps, this Sunday, it is worth
reflecting on the mercy of God as embodied in the leadership of Pope Francis
and our own Cardinal Tagle.

by: Fr. Cireneo Matulac, SSC

]]>
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross-september-14-2019
Jn 3:13-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
adminarlenneSat, 14 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Jesus said to Nicodemus:"No one has gone up to heavenexcept the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,so must the Son of Man be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.

Quote from Saint Columban

Sermon IX: Let us live for Christ, who while dying restored our life. Let us die to ourselves and live to Christ. Let us not be proud, haughty, or undisciplined, but humble, kindly, and courteous, so that Christ may reign in our hearts.

]]>
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church September 13, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/saint-john-chrysostomo
Lk 6:39-42 Jesus told his disciples a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher."adminarlenneFri, 13 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Jesus told his disciples a parable:"Can a blind person guide a blind person?Will not both fall into a pit?No disciple is superior to the teacher;but when fully trained,every disciple will be like his teacher.Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye,but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?How can you say to your brother,'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,'when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;then you will see clearlyto remove the splinter in your brother's eye."

ReflectionThe gospel today shows us the need for self-reflection and the humility for self-criticism. It is necessary that as a Christian community, we need to examine our collective conscience so we can grow into the image of Christ.

]]>
Holy Name of Mary September 12, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/holy-name-of-mary-september-12-2019
Lk 6:27-38 Jesus said to his disciples: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."adminarlenneThu, 12 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Holy Name of Mary

Jesus said to his disciples:"To you who hear I say, love your enemies,do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,pray for those who mistreat you.To the person who strikes you on one cheek,offer the other one as well,and from the person who takes your cloak,do not withhold even your tunic.Give to everyone who asks of you,and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.Do to others as you would have them do to you.For if you love those who love you,what credit is that to you?Even sinners love those who love them.And if you do good to those who do good to you,what credit is that to you?Even sinners do the same.If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,what credit is that to you?Even sinners lend to sinners,and get back the same amount.But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,and lend expecting nothing back;then your reward will be greatand you will be children of the Most High,for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give and gifts will be given to you;a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measurewill in return be measured out to you."

ReflectionJesus illustrates the serious and far-reaching demands of love. Love is not about feeling good or warm feelings but it is about what we do for and with others and to all forms of life, following the examples set by Jesus.

]]>
Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time September 11, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/wednesday-of-the-twenty-third-week-in-ordinary-time-september-11-2019
Lk 6:20-26 "Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied...But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation."adminarlenneWed, 11 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

"Blessed are you who are poor,for the Kingdom of God is yours.Blessed are you who are now hungry,for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who are now weeping,for you will laugh.Blessed are you when people hate you,and when they exclude and insult you,and denounce your name as evilon account of the Son of Man.

"Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.For their ancestors treated the prophetsin the same way.But woe to you who are rich,for you have received your consolation.But woe to you who are filled now,for you will be hungry.Woe to you who laugh now,for you will grieve and weep.Woe to you when all speak well of you,for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."

Quote from Saint Columban

Letter IV:Blessed is the one who shares in this passion and shame, for the foolishness of God is wiser than men. Therefore, let us patiently bear all adversities for truth's sake, that we may be sharers in the Lord's passion, since none are worthy of mercy, except those who confess their unworthiness.

]]>
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino September 10, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/saint-nicholas-of-tolentino-september-10-2019
Lk 6:12-19 Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles.adminarlenneTue, 10 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,and he spent the night in prayer to God.When day came, he called his disciples to himself,and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,Simon who was called a Zealot,and Judas the son of James,and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the peoplefrom all Judea and Jerusalemand the coastal region of Tyre and Sidoncame to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.Everyone in the crowd sought to touch himbecause power came forth from him and healed them all.

Reflection

The mission of Jesus extends to us today. It is alive in people who are touched by the Spirit of Christ and live it in their lives. We participate in God's reign of love, justice and mercy by the works we do (or not do), no matter how great or simple it may be. Each of us has our own specific role and responsibility to play in propagating God's love to all of His creation.

]]>
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest September 9, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/memorial-of-saint-peter-claver-priest-september-9-2019
Lk 6:6-11 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored.adminarlenneMon, 09 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closelyto see if he would cure on the sabbathso that they might discover a reason to accuse him.But he realized their intentionsand said to the man with the withered hand,"Come up and stand before us."And he rose and stood there.Then Jesus said to them,"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbathrather than to do evil,to save life rather than to destroy it?"Looking around at them all, he then said to him,"Stretch out your hand."He did so and his hand was restored.But they became enragedand discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Reflection

Jesus' ministry was always about giving back life to those who've lost it, restoring what was broken and healing what was wounded. In our world today, we are Jesus' ministers and he is inviting us to continue His ministry of reconciliation.

]]>
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time September 8, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/twenty-third-sunday-in-ordinary-time-september-8-2019
Lk 14:25-33 Jesus addressed the crowd, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple....In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”adminarlenneSun, 08 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,and he turned and addressed them,“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,wife and children, brothers and sisters,and even his own life,he cannot be my disciple.Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after mecannot be my disciple.Which of you wishing to construct a towerdoes not first sit down and calculate the costto see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundationand finding himself unable to finish the workthe onlookers should laugh at him and say,‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’Or what king marching into battle would not first sit downand decide whether with ten thousand troopshe can successfully oppose another kingadvancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away,he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way,anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessionscannot be my disciple.”

There are three points
from today’s gospel that I would like to draw your attention, and all these talk
about a call to follow Jesus or our Christian vocation to discipleship.

First, Jesus said
that, “whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and
children, brother and sister, yes, even life itself cannot be my disciple”
v.26. This is perhaps the most unthinkable for Filipinos because we grow up where
there is great attachment to family. We are taught to love our family and the
opposite to that is hate. And here, the injunction of Jesus comes very strong.
However, Luke Timothy Johnson in his commentary on Luke’s gospel says that
here, the word “hate” does not mean an emotional state which is the opposite of
love. Rather, it denotes attitude and action. It does not mean a feeling
towards parents and siblings but rather an act which means that when it comes
to the choice for the reign of God, it is the choice of God’s reign that takes
priority. It is perhaps similar to one’s attitude towards material possession
in which Jesus in Luke’s gospel calls for detachment in order for these possessions
not to get in the way of discipleship. In other words, the invitation of Jesus
to enter into the kingdom of God through discipleship is paramount over other
familial and social relationships.

Second, Jesus said,
“whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” v.27.
This is often understood by us Christians as learning to bear our own suffering
even if it is coming from an abusive act done to us. This understanding,
however, is dangerous and often does more harm to the victims of all kinds of
abuse because they are called to simply bear their own cross, instead of doing
something about the abuse done to them. But Jesus is saying none of these
things. Here, Jesus is referring to a type of suffering that we must bear or a
particular type of cross that we must carry. This suffering or cross is coming
from the call to follow Jesus and being faithful to the way he lived his life,
ministered to people, even at the cost of his death. It is about suffering that
comes from our carrying out of the work of the reign of God, or proclaiming
liberty to the captives, attention to those who suffer and so on. The kind of
suffering that is coming from abuse must be stopped. However, we must bear the
suffering that results from the proclamation and living out of the reign of
God.

Third, Jesus uses the
image of building a tower. He says that one must think clearly on the project
one has to embark on, like estimating the cost and whether one has enough
resources to complete it. Otherwise when a person has already laid the
foundation and not able to finish it, she/he will be ridiculed for it. A similar
example is about a king going to war (vv. 31-32). The examples are clear. A
person should not start something, if she/he cannot finish it. In other words,
in following Jesus, one must take it to the finish line. All these examples are
once again illustrations of the way to discipleship. We cannot just decide one
day to follow Jesus out of impulse, but rather we must go through a proper
discernment. Once we have made a decision, it has to be lived everyday by responding
to the challenges that present to us. Discipleship is about following Jesus
every day to the end.

In this theme of
following Jesus, we must ask ourselves: What are the stumbling blocks in our
life in following the way of Jesus? Am I prepared to pay the cost of
discipleship? For instance, am I firmly resolved to seek the truth and speak it
even if I am up against people of position and power? Am I willing to follow
Jesus every day? How am I living discipleship in the ordinary every day of my
life? Perhaps, once again, we take a look at our calling to follow Jesus in the
commitments we make every day to our family, church community and society. How
am I living out my life in faithfulness to the way of Jesus who continues to
invite us to follow him?

by: Fr. Cireneo Matulac, SSC

]]>
Blessed Frederic Ozanam September 7, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/blessed-frederic-ozanam-september-7-2019
Lk 6:1-5 Jesus said to the Pharisees in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
adminarlenneSat, 07 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Blessed Frederic Ozanam

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,his disciples were picking the heads of grain,rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.Some Pharisees said,“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”Jesus said to them in reply,“Have you not read what David didwhen he and those who were with him were hungry?How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,which only the priests could lawfully eat,ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Reflection

The gospel message centers on living by the spirit of the law. Jesus recognized that the letter of the law can kill, but the spirit of the law gives life. Furthermore, Jesus asserted his Lordship over an entire range of institutional practices that may not be life-giving. We are invited to follow his life-giving acts, born out of love and done with love and for the love of the Father and all of God's creation.

]]>
Blessed Claudio Granzotto September 6, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/blessed-claudio-granzotto-september-6-2019
Lk 5:33-39 Jesus said, "No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"adminarlenneFri, 06 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Blessed Claudio Granzotto

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;but yours eat and drink."Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fastwhile the bridegroom is with them?But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,then they will fast in those days."And he also told them a parable."No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.Otherwise, he will tear the newand the piece from it will not match the old cloak.Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,for he says, 'The old is good.'"

Reflection

In Jesus, we have the start of a new creation, new hope. With him, we can reach God, know God and live the life of God - as a people with all of God's creation. We (Christians) are more than just following old religious principles wrapped in new practices.

]]>
Saint Teresa of Calcutta September 5, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/saint-teresa-of-calcutta-september-5-2019
Lk 5:1-11 Jesus said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."adminarlenneThu, 05 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Saint Teresa of Calcutta

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.He saw two boats there alongside the lake;the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."Simon said in reply,"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,but at your command I will lower the nets."When they had done this, they caught a great number of fishand their nets were tearing.They signaled to their partners in the other boatto come to help them. They came and filled both boatsso that the boats were in danger of sinking.When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized himand all those with him,and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,who were partners of Simon.Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;from now on you will be catching men."When they brought their boats to the shore,they left everything and followed him.

Quote from Saint Columban

Letter IV:This is the truth of the gospel: that the true disciples of Christ crucified should follow him with a cross. Blessed is the one who shares in this passion and shame, for the foolishness of God is wiser than men. Therefore, let us patiently bear all adversities for truth's sake, that we may be sharers in the Lord's passion, since none are worthy of mercy, except those who confess their unworthiness.

]]>
Saint Rose of Viterbo September 4, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/saint-rose-of-viterbo-september-4-2019
Lk 4:38-44 Jesus said to the people, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent."adminarlenneWed, 04 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Saint Rose of Viterbo

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,and they interceded with him about her.He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speakbecause they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,they tried to prevent him from leaving them.But he said to them, "To the other towns alsoI must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,because for this purpose I have been sent."And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Reflection

Jesus knows his purpose in life. He has been sent to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to all peoples, not only to a particular group or a particular place. In our present world, the mission of Jesus has been shared with us. By our faith and with our personal experience of God's love, we too are commissioned to share this good news of love to others, even beyond our comfort zones or familiar places/people/culture/religion.

]]>
Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church September 3, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/saint-gregory-the-great-pope-and-doctor-of-the-church-september-3-2019
Lk 4:31-37 They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."adminarlenneTue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.He taught them on the sabbath,and they were astonished at his teachingbecause he spoke with authority.In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?Have you come to destroy us?I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"Then the demon threw the man down in front of themand came out of him without doing him any harm.They were all amazed and said to one another,"What is there about his word?For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,and they come out."And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

Reflection

Jesus delivers us from evil which strives to destroy those who are created in the likeness of God. We are, therefore, invited to believe and follow Jesus' words and works so that we may overcome evil with good.

]]>
Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions September 2, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/blessed-john-francis-burte-and-companions-september-2-2019
Lk 4:16-30 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
adminarlenneMon, 02 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,and went according to his custominto the synagogue on the sabbath day.He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captivesand recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free,and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.He said to them,"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."And all spoke highly of himand were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb,'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native placethe things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"And he said,"Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.Indeed, I tell you,there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijahwhen the sky was closed for three and a half yearsand a severe famine spread over the entire land.It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.Again, there were many lepers in Israelduring the time of Elisha the prophet;yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."When the people in the synagogue heard this,they were all filled with fury.They rose up, drove him out of the town,and led him to the brow of the hillon which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Reflection

The ways of Jesus are liberating and challenging, as it was in His time until today. He was witnessing to the truth and laying the foundations for future works of freedom and justice for all, sinners, people from all walks of life and all forms of life included, not exclusive to the learned, those in authority and power, or to those who are rich.

]]>
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time September 1, 2019http://columbanmission.org.ph/gospel-reading-and-reflection/twenty-second-sunday-in-ordinary-time-september-1-2019
Lk 14:1, 7-14 Jesus said, "When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."adminarlenneSun, 01 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table."When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,'Give your place to this man,'and then you would proceed with embarrassmentto take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited,go and take the lowest placeso that when the host comes to you he may say,'My friend, move up to a higher position.'Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Then he said to the host who invited him,"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,do not invite your friends or your brothersor your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.Rather, when you hold a banquet,invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

This
Sunday’s gospel continues to relate the parables of Jesus from Luke. Jesus, in
telling the parables, uses familiar images from ordinary life and society. The
parables are not simply talking about familiar images, such as the wheat and
the weeds, the lost son, the sower sowing the seeds, but rather, the parables talk
about the reign of God and about the way God is. And there
is always some unexpected turn or a twist in the parables that challenges the
way we usually think and compels us to act differently. Lastly, the meaning of a
parable is open-ended, there is not only one interpretation but many. It might
mean to us differently because of our culture and social context than to the
first hearers of the parable.

The reason
why I started my reflection on today’s gospel this way is to remind us not to
take for granted the way we understand this parable because of the familiarity
of the images to Filipino culture and society. Today’s parable talks about
“choosing the places of honor at the table.” Jesus says that when you are
invited to a wedding banquet, “do not recline at the table in the place of
honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and
the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘give your place to
this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest
place.” I find it very close to the way Filipinos host a party where we invite important
people and everyone expects that they may be given proper attention and a special
place. Usually, the success of the party revolves around how the guests had been properly treated or had been taken for granted or had not been given their
due according to their social status. The after-party gossips can sometimes be
deadly. It can break personal bonds and social relationships and can create
animosity among neighbors who felt slighted for not being treated well by the
host.

The parable
then says that it might be better “to take the lowest place so that when the
host come to you, he may say, ‘my friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then
you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at that table.” If this story
tells us about the way God is and about the reign of God, it might give us an
insight about the way we respond to God’s invitation to His reign. We
could never presume to occupy the best seats in the reign of God. We cannot
presume even that because we do such and such in the community, that we can
demand the best place in God’s reign or a special treatment. We cannot presume
that just because we have done such and such for the church and the community,
others are less deserving than us and that we deserve more. We can be filled
with self-importance and can easily judge others. However, the parable emphasizes
our total dependence on God’s action and generosity. God’s generosity is
humbling, something that we do not deserve but freely given to us.

Jesus then
proceeds to say that when you give a luncheon or a party, “do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case
they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a
banquet invite the poor, the crippled the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will
you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous.” This injunction of Jesus runs counter to the
way we host a banquet. However, this passage is consistent with Lucan theme of
the reversals of social expectations in the reign of God. The marginalized, the
vulnerable, those taken for granted in society have their best place reserved in
the reign of God and not those whom our society have given the places of honor.
If the reign of God is about justice, peace, forgiveness and mercy, these are
the ones who will first receive God’s justice and mercy. Thus, if we are to act
in accordance with the values of the kingdom, then we must pay attention to the
most neglected among us and not those who can repay our kindness or improved of
status. The gospel today challenges us to act differently according to the ways
of God and not simply according to the expectations of our culture and society.

In our
everyday life, we ask: Who are the people to whom we give importance and
attention? Who are the neglected ones in our midst – in our family,
neighborhoods and workplace? Can we become friends to the poorest and lowest
person in our society? Are we part of a system that victimizes the poor and
take advantage of the most vulnerable? Or do we fight against the system that
turn people into victims? In a society where there is so much oppression and
injustice, can we claim to be followers of Christ without being part of a community
that work to promote human dignity and liberation? God’s reign is offered freely,
and we are continually invited to respond to it regardless of our social status
and life situation.